CRIME-BUSTING security cameras are to stand guard over a community after residents declared "enough is enough".

Chickerell Town Council has agreed to pay £5,000 for a CCTV system to protect against yobs who are creating havoc.

The plan will see eight cameras being installed around the Willowbed Hall, which has been targeted by vandals and thieves.

Extra cameras will then be bought at a cost of about £1,200 each and erected around the area, linking up to the Willowbed Hall system.

The council is using existing cash from its reserves to fund the operation, so council tax bills will not be affected.

Chickerell mayor John Worth said the town council was fighting back against a minority of unruly youths who cause trouble.

He said the last straw came when a playgroup's storage shed outside the hall was vandalised last month, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

Mr Worth said: "As a result of various incidents over the last couple of years the council has agreed, subject to a satisfactory demonstration by the operators, to install CCTV around the hall.

"It's a sophisticated system, which records on to DVD and the hope is the images will be good enough so they can be used in court to support a prosecution. We did consider linking into the Weymouth system but the cost was prohibitive. Instead the cameras will be monitored by council staff during office hours.

"The cameras are sensitive to movement so the system can be checked in the morning for any activity overnight."

Cameras will be fitted to other sites in time, including the planned memorial gardens next to the library, the planned sports pavilion on the football field and the youth club.

Mr Worth said: "This is not about Big Brother. It's about protecting our assets and making the area safe for everyone.

"Many of our young people are honest, law-abiding citizens but it's the minority who spoil it for everyone else. We're not talking about any major problems, it's wanton vandalism and things like that. A town councillor, Norman Carter, became a victim of crime when he had his bicycle stolen from outside the Willowbed Hall."

The system should be installed by Christmas and Mr Worth added: "No one has anything to fear unless you are a person who is doing wrong."